"Pirate chasing" lawyer Espen Tøndel works for the MPAA, and would love to see everyone who's ever used a file sharing network/client to download or upload copyrighted content either make reparations or go to jail. Tøndel was most recently seen in Norway, chasing a bunch of IP addresses. When Tøndel took this list of IP addresses to the police, they flat out told him that they will not chase petty criminals when murderers, rapists and other baddies roam Norwegian streets. Tøndel, infuriated, decided to take his case to higher court. He requested a meeting with the Norwegian department of justice. He instead got a flat "no" answer, and was effectively told that he might as well file suits against the pile of IP addresses, because no Norwegian police agency was going to bother itself with solving the petty piracy cases. It is unclear whether or not Tøndel has actually tried to sue the IP addresses, or if the suits utterly failed because he never could tie the IP addresses to a name.

God I hate people like that.. If I were in the police over there I woulda done the same! Why waste time on trying to find a guy downloading music when there are murderers and rapists running around killing and raping people..

But file sharing is worse than rape and murder.... think about poor Lars from metallica.... unable to get his gold plated swimming pool right away because of piracy... he had to save for 3 whole days before he could buy one

But file sharing is worse than rape and murder.... think about poor Lars from metallica.... unable to get his gold plated swimming pool right away because of piracy... he had to save for 3 whole days before he could buy one

But file sharing is worse than rape and murder.... think about poor Lars from metallica.... unable to get his gold plated swimming pool right away because of piracy... he had to save for 3 whole days before he could buy one

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Now thats funny...And its so typical of these so called "crusaders".:shadedshu...There are "real" criminals out there...but these people downloading music and games for FREE are the real threat... What a buffoon!

But file sharing is worse than rape and murder.... think about poor Lars from metallica.... unable to get his gold plated swimming pool right away because of piracy... he had to save for 3 whole days before he could buy one

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That has to be one of the most funny and true quotes I've ever heard, ever.

But file sharing is worse than rape and murder.... think about poor Lars from metallica.... unable to get his gold plated swimming pool right away because of piracy... he had to save for 3 whole days before he could buy one

This guy is actually quite funny. I happen to live in Norway, and he went on a PR-crusade when everyone told him to pretty much shove his case up where the sun hopefully doesn't shine. Of course, nobody here gives a damn unless they're associated with the music industry, but that's just how things work here.

Also, suing a bunch of IP-addresses is utterly useless here, as no lawyer will get the data behind those IP's (names, addresses etc) unless he has a court-order. Which means that the case will have to be filed with the police. Which again leads to exactly what's happened in this case, since the police has other things to do than to chase down pirates. Yay for hardcore protection of that type of data Unless you have a name, an address and other things like that, the court-system here will tell you to bugger off and quit wasting their time.

Of course, he could go to the special computer crime-unit, but they're currently chasing other, more important computer-criminals, like the people that make and distribute childporn and such. And I'd really like to give that lawyer a reality-check on what's the more important issue.

agreed here is an idea, for the music industry compile free singles of a new album to get the band recognition, most pirates will buy the Album if its good. For game compaines release shareware, ya know like the first 40% of the game, not a one level demo. But wait this isnt new is it, nope its not, maybe you should go back to your roots. With the crap most of you make today its a like playing Russian Roulete when i buy a game that looks good but turns out like crap, Prision Tycoon anyone?

But file sharing is worse than rape and murder.... think about poor Lars from metallica.... unable to get his gold plated swimming pool right away because of piracy... he had to save for 3 whole days before he could buy one

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LOL ! That made me laugh pretty hard.

Anyway, there's nothing more dangerous than a hydra who makes unholy amounts of money exploiting artists and whose position is threatened.

Gj, Norway ! The most amazing stance anyone has taken against these "democracy"-born monsters.

agreed here is an idea, for the music industry compile free singles of a new album to get the band recognition, most pirates will buy the Album if its good. For game compaines release shareware, ya know like the first 40% of the game, not a one level demo. But wait this isnt new is it, nope its not, maybe you should go back to your roots. With the crap most of you make today its a like playing Russian Roulete when i buy a game that looks good but turns out like crap, Prision Tycoon anyone?

Good enough for him!!!
He must be the loneliest person on the planet... lonelier than Will Smith in I Am Legend.... absolutely no friends at all!!! or a GF, or a Wife

When singers/songwriters actually make an album worth buying, then i will buy it!

Wish all the cops were like this towards piracy..... poor singers...awww......they can only spend €100,000 on a party, or €500,000 on their latest car or SUV!!!

Artists liek that annoy me so much...... "give money to save the world, dig deep in your pockets and give money for poor hungry people" they tell us..... all the while they have enough in their spare change jar to end world hunger!

Good enough for him!!!
He must be the loneliest person on the planet... lonelier than Will Smith in I Am Legend.... absolutely no friends at all!!! or a GF, or a Wife

When singers/songwriters actually make an album worth buying, then i will buy it!

Wish all the cops were like this towards piracy..... poor singers...awww......they can only spend €100,000 on a party, or €500,000 on their latest car or SUV!!!

Artists liek that annoy me so much...... "give money to save the world, dig deep in your pockets and give money for poor hungry people" they tell us..... all the while they have enough in their spare change jar to end world hunger!

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^^ agreed - people like Bono from U2, Bob Geldoff. & any other 'star' which asks us 'lower class' individuals to donate or 'do more' for less fortunate people but at the end of the day WE arent the ones raking in 300k a day by walking into a studio & farting.

there are some awesome famous people who have done lots & lots for charity & not only when it suits them. Princess Diana, Anjalina Jolie, Muhumed Ali to name a few. wheres bono now??? no where to been seen after some reporter found out that the charity were PAYING him to help. christ almighty how low can you go???

& they have the nerve to bitch at us to do more for unfortunate others??? being in the position that they are in they could achieve a lot rather then just demanding money from a charity to be their spokes person for the day.

we cant all be rich & famous but we do what we can do but sometimes they dont understand that.

At least the police had a better goal than to deal with some crazed lunatic over a Digital file. I mean seriously what do you guys think is worse...... a killer on the loose or some kid that pirates stuff?

A little update on this case: Espen Tøndel and the law-firm Simonsen have sent a letter to 26 ISP's here in Norway, wanting them to send it on to the customers that they have IP-addresses for and such things. The letter is pretty much what I'd call fear-propaganda, aimed to scare the internet-users into signing the letter of admission that follows with. The admission goes towards admitting that they have uploaded/shared files on the torrent-networks, and that they will not do so again. It also makes the person signing the letter responsible for the further spread of what he/she uploaded, and that it can be used against them further down the road. The firm is also threatening the ISP's with being possible accomplishts in this if they do not cooperate.

Now, the problems in this case are quite a few. The laws governing personal data (social securitynumbers, names, addresses etc) are VERY strict here, and it is also stated, by law and through cases that's been up before the Supreme Court, that it is the police that are to investigate and prosecute people that break the laws. The lawfirm are, in effect, trying to do the police's work, which is heavily frowned upon and might be outright illegal. Another issue is the fact that the law-firm has had a partly secret concession for the last year to conduct investigations into things like these, using a program from a company called DtecNet. Giving an organisation/private firm like a lawfirm the information that will identify one specific customer in their net will also mean that the ISP breaks Norwegian law, and is something I'd say that no ISP in their right mind are willing to do. You need a court-order to get that info, and it's only handed out to the police if there is a criminal case behind it.

People in an organisation here called IKT-Norge, which is an interest-organisation for IT-firms, internet-providers and such, are up in arms because of this whole issue, with good reason. As they say, to hold the ISP's responsible is like holding the mailman responsible for the content in the letters he delivers. Of course, the law-firm are still saying that the ISP's have an ethical responsibility to stop this type of activity, as well as being required to do so by both Norwegian law, and the laws of the EU (while Norway isn't a member in the EU, we're still bound by some of their laws through a cooperation-agreement. Go figure).

Just how far they'll get with this is unknown at present time, but it will be highly interesting to watch. I would guess that since the Consumer Council has advocated that anyone receiving these letters should NOT answer them, and because the Norwegian Government's Data Inspectorate also are looking to get involved, this won't simply blow over like yesterdays news.